Thanks for the information. The more I read about Frontier's, the more I feel they are better than Tacoma's. Seems like these trucks are way underrated.
I'd agree, they are seriously underrated. They're a joy to drive on the road, very quiet and comfortable, and with a more powerful engine than Toyota's 4.0. They're also a bit roomier and feel more like a truck when you're driving them.
Their big flaws:
Ground clearance -
My Frontier with a 3" lift and sliders is only just an inch or two taller under the doors than a stock gen 2 Taco. The frame heights are pretty similar, but for some reason Nissan decided to build around the frame instead of on top of it, like Toyota did.
Front suspension -
1. Uses a UCA that swings above the coilover instead of around it like the Tacos. This means there's not as much room to move, and it creates the more imminent problem of UCA/coil bucket contact when using longer shocks or spacers, which is unpleasant at best and damaging at worst. It's a decent design, but it doesn't allow for as much travel.
2. Frontiers have wider frames and, therefore, shorter control arms. Shorter control arms means less travel. The wider frame also creates the issue of shorter CV shafts. Shorter shafts means more severe angles on the joints when the suspension is extended. Ergo, less travel.
3. Toyota uses a front diff design that has the CV shafts coming out of the diff a few inches lower than the Frontier diffs do. This means that the Taco's CV joints are at a flatter angle when the suspension is extended.
The overall front suspension design allows for less travel and less lift than the Tacoma, unless you're willing to do a Titan swap. I'm not a big fan of that particular route, but to each their own.
All that being said though, I like the Frontier more than I like the Tacoma. They're not as common, they're usually modified less, they're nicer to drive, the interior is a bit bigger, the bed rails are deeper, the engine is more brawny, the rear diffs are generally tougher, the frames are more solid, they have a shorter wheelbase, and I think they look better. And used ones are cheaper.
